Permit approved for alcohol sales at Arkansas StateJONESBORO — A permit has been approved allowing alcohol to be served at some events on the Arkansas State University campus. ASU says Arkansas Alcohol Beverage Control Board Director Bud Roberts approved the permit for the NEA Sports Club of Jonesboro on Monday, conditional on a final inspection of the facilities. ASU’s Board of Trustees in April approved a 10-year lease agreement with the nonprofit sports club allowing it to serve alcohol to ...

Video: Traffic stop turns into confrontationAssociated Press HEMPSTEAD, Texas — A police dashboard video released Tuesday shows how a routine traffic stop escalated into a shouting confrontation between a Texas state trooper and a black woman who was later found dead in her jail cell. The video posted by the Texas Department of Public Safety shows the trooper stopping Sandra Bland, a 28-year-old Illinois woman, for failure to signal a lane change. After he hands her a written warning, t...

Turkey a vulnerable target for Islamic StateAssociated Press ISTANBUL — Officials have raised concerns that a deadly bombing in southeastern Turkey is part of a campaign of retaliation by the Islamic State group for a recent crackdown on its operations in the country. If they are right, Turkey would be a particularly vulnerable target for the extremists. The country shares a 1,250-kilometer (775-mile) border with Iraq and Syria, putting it nearby to strongholds of the self-proclaimed Is...

Alcohol sales a potential new revenue streamBudgets are tight in Russellville and Pope County as city and county leaders struggle to balance expenses with income, leaving some to speculate how to broaden revenue streams. In 2013, Pope County justices of the peace discussed a millage increase to boost the county's budget, though an effort to pass an increase failed. Now, Russellville city officials plan to ask voters to approve a quarter-cent sales tax increase to boost city coffers by a...

Rummaging causes problems at Main Street MissionVolunteers at Main Street Mission are exasperated by a growing problem with people pilfering through donations left for the organization after business hours and making large messes that are time consuming to clean up. Main Street Mission has been a beacon of hope in the Arkansas River Valley for nearly 21 years, offering assistance to those who need it most. While Main Street Mission is likely best known for providing meals and food boxes, th...

Bridge passed inspection, failed in flash floodAssociated Press DESERT CENTER, Calif. — The interstate bridge that washed out in the desert between Los Angeles and Phoenix easily withstood its daily load of thousands of cars and trucks, but the pounding of a powerful flash flood scoured away the land where the bridge was anchored, officials said Monday. The flood severed a highway vital to the movement of people and commerce between two of the nation’s largest cities. On an average day, th...

New laws aimed at helping domestic violence victimsAssociated Press LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas law enforcement officers will be required to ask domestic violence victims a series of questions to determine their risk of being killed, and must provide the victims a card with information about assistance and their rights under new laws taking effect this week. State lawmakers said Monday that the measures, which take effect on Wednesday after being approved by the Legislature earlier this year, are a...

Lawyers may try to use Cosby’s own words against himAssociated Press Bill Cosby’s lurid, decade-old testimony about his philandering could do more than damage what’s left of his fatherly image — it could very well be used against him in court by some of the women who accuse him of sexual assault. Rocco Cipparone, a defense lawyer in New Jersey who is not connected to any of the legal action surrounding Cosby, said Monday that what the comedian said under oath could wind up hurting him in civil ...

Arkansas governor temporarily moves guard recruitersLITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson is temporarily closing the state’s nine storefront National Guard recruitment centers as officials review their security following last week’s attacks on two military facilities in Tennessee. Hutchinson on Monday signed an executive order moving Guard members from the centers to their nearest armory or wing while Adjutant General Major General Mark Berry works on recommendations for improving security...

Water for soccer fields approvedRussellville Recreation and Parks Director Mack Hollis suggested that if the City Council keeps discussing how to pay for water at the Soccer Complex, it will keep raining enough that it won’t need funding. However, the Council approved a $7,000 appropriation to water the soccer fields during its July meeting last week, finally closing an agenda item that had been discussed since budgets were submitted last year. The $7,000 came from the city’...

SpaceX says strut snapped, brought down rocketAssociated Press CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX suspects a 2-foot steel strut snapped inside its rocket and led to last month’s launch accident. The company’s founder and chief executive, Elon Musk, said Monday that these struts had flown many times before without any problem. But two minutes into the June 28 launch, one of the struts in the second stage of the unmanned Falcon 9 rocket likely broke loose. The strut was holding down a high-press...

Russellville School District Registration Information 2015-2016 Monday, August 17, 2015, is the first day of school for grades K-12. Students who attended school in the Russellville School District last year are pre-registered. ELEMENTARY (Kindergarten through 4th Grade) All students attending Russellville schools in kindergarten through fourth grade who are new to the district should register as soon as possible beginning Monday, August 3. Elementary students register at the school in their zone. Required...

Obituary: Robert EarlsRobert Earls DANVILLE — Robert Dale “Buttcutt” Earls, age 55, of Havana, passed away Sunday, July 18, 2015. He was born April 28, 1960, in Danville to George Robert and Elaine Osburn Earls. He was a 1978 Danville High School graduate. He was the Produce Manager for CV’s Family Foods in Danville. He was preceded in death by his father Robert Earls; nephews, Jason Jackson and Shannon Foster. Survivors include his son, Caiden Earls; mother, Elain...

Obituary: Dana RowbothamDana Rowbotham CLARKSVILLE — Dana Jo Rowbotham left this world peacefully Sunday, July 19, 2015, at her home in Clarksville. Dana Jo was born February 13, 1939, in Lamar to Everett A. Rowbotham and Hilda Mills Rowbotham. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 21, 2015, at Hardwicke Funeral Home. Services will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 22, 2015, at Hardwicke Funeral Home in Clarksville with Reverend John Palmer officiating. Interment ...

Obituary: Letitia WoodwardLetitia Woodward CLARKSVILLE — Letitia Kaye Hall Woodward of Knoxville, Arkansas, was born June 29, 1971, to her parents in Clarksville and passed away July 19, 2015, in Fort Smith at the age of 44. She is survived by her husband, Charles Woodward of Knoxville; her parents, Claud Dell Hall and Linda Kaye Skaggs Clayborn, both of Clarksville; a brother, Billy Clayborn of Timbo, Arkansas; and four sisters, Leah Gamble of Oklahoma, Tammy Nichols ...

Obituary: Lou Ann PewLou Ann Pew CONWAY — Lou Ann Pew, 80, of Conway, passed away Saturday, July 18, 2015. She was born July 27, 1934, in Holland, Ark., to the late Morris H. Butler and Bonnie Dillaha Butler. She was also preceded in death by her granddaughter, Lauren Elaine Shaw. Mrs. Pew was a member of First United Methodist Church in Conway. She graduated from Greenbrier High School and Arkansas State Teachers College, now known as U.C.A. She later earned her ...

Obituary: Carroll EnglishCarroll English ATKINS — Carroll Wayne English, 64, formerly of Centerville, passed away Saturday, July 18, 2015, in Rogers. He was born June 22, 1951, in Russellville, son of the late Tom and Anna Virginia Owens English and also preceded in death by a brother David English. He loved hunting, fishing and loved racing stock cars. He is survived by his wife, Burlene English of Rogers; two sons, Thomas and wife Patricia English and Aaron English ...

Obituary: Darrell AndersonDarrell Anderson DARDANELLE — Darrell Lynn Anderson, age 57, of Dardanelle, died Friday, July 17, 2015, at his home. He was born November 16, 1957, in Chico, Calif., to the late Darrell and Fannie Dillard Anderson. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, James Anderson and several nephews and nieces. Survivors include his wife, Lynn Reynolds Anderson; one son, John Darrell Anderson of Dardanelle; one brother, John Anderson; siste...

Letter to the Editor: Class of ‘65 welcomedThe Class of 1965 held their 50th Reunion this past weekend. I had the pleasure of joining these former students on Saturday afternoon for their tour of Russellville High School. We started at the Center for the Arts with Mr Randall Williams as our tour guide. Mr. Williams covered all of the physical plant as well as what went on in each area of RHS. He answered questions and covered all programs in detail. As I left the gathering I thought ho...

Community photo: Rotary ClubMayor Randy Horton (second from left) and Finance Director Jerrold McKaughan (right) recently spoke to the Russellville Rotary Club about the proposed one quarter of 1-percent sales tax. Several examples were given as to how the money would be used in regard to police, fire, Recreation and Parks, and many other departments within the city. After the three readings during the monthly city council meetings, the mayor is hopeful for a successful ...